Concerns over mental health as a consequence of Coronavirus
Are the British population avoiding mental health services?
More adults are suffering from some form of depression during the pandemic.
The findings are based on the Opinions and Lifestyle survey from the ONS.
The survey revealed that almost one in five adults were likely to be experiencing symptoms of depression in June 2020.
Previous research explored the negative impacts on mental health before and after the lockdown.
The Lancet Psychiatry stated:
“By late April, 2020, mental health in the UK had deteriorated compared with pre-COVID-19 trends.”
Despite this, fewer referrals are being made to mental health services.
The trend emerging is that people are seeking help but are staying away from face-to-face consultations.
Sean Duggan is the NHS Confederation mental health lead. Speaking to the BBC, he highlighted the issue:
“A&E numbers were down, GP numbers were down. The same occurred in some of our mental health services.”
Individuals could be seen to be trying to ease the burden off the health service while also having fears of catching the virus.
But this could lead to future complications:
“The concern is, if you leave problems they can get worse,” — said Duggan
The NHS have noticed the drop off in referrals and has been publishing helpful advice online.
The United Kingdom went into lockdown on 23 March. Some form of easing was announced on 10 May.
This was a long period of isolation and the ONS survey revealed what impact it had.
How did the lockdown affect mental health?
- One in eight adults (12.9%) developed moderate to severe depressive symptoms.
- 85% of adults said feeling anxious or stressed were the main two things impacting their well-being.
- Over two in five (42.2%) suffering some from depression said their relationship had been affected.
- Almost one in five adults were experiencing some form of depression. Nearly double from around one in 10 before the pandemic.
How have the government and NHS responded?
The UK government have been releasing new advice on how to manage your well-being.
Guidance ranges from daily routines, sleep and using the services that are available.
The NHS has been using its social media channels as well as YouTube to help raise awareness.
What can you do?
The advice remains that if you are feeling worried about your mental health, use the services around you.
There are a plethora of helplines and websites that provide tips and suitable information.
Below is the Twitter account for Mind — a mental health charity in the UK.
They conducted a recent initiative involving the mental health of Black people for #Blackhistorymonth which is on their social channels.
